Kilconquhar Hotels

Kilconquhar Castle: Ho-hum! Just another sunny day in Scotland

Self-catering timeshare resort in the Kingdom of Fife, on the north side of the Firth of Forth, and fairly close to St. Andrews. We were there in late March, expecting rain and damp. The only rain we saw the whole time in the UK was a sprinkle in London in the taxi from Paddington to Kings Cross to board the train to York and Edinburgh. The resort is in an agricultural area, so lots of farm implements on the roads, lots of newly plowed fields, and lots of large livestock, as compared to further north dotted with sheep and Heilan' kuhs.

St. Andrews is nearby, which is famous for the University, the Castle, the Abbey, Prince William and golf, though not necessarily in that order. Plenty of other golf opportunities in the vicinity, if you indulge.

A car is a must, as it is a half hour drive to St. Andrews and a full hour into Edinburgh or up to Dundee. Or anywhere else, for that matter.

Interesting fact: many of the older houses in Elie, St. Monance, and Anstruther are roofed with Dutch tiles that came over as ballast in Dutch ships trading in the Firth of Forth.

Unique Quality: The castle grounds are the ancestral home of Robert Bruce, father of Robert the Bruce. The castle includes a few units as a hotel, and the grounds are scattered with free-standing one-, two-, and three-bedroom timeshare units. Grounds include a driving range and some putting greens, a livery stable, and a rec center with pool, party rooms and small gymnasium. Castle includes a pub/bistro and a more formal restaurant.

They advertise a "Taste of Scotland" dinner for Tuesday evenings in the Castle restaurant, but when we checked in, we (4) were the only ones signed up, so it didn't happen. Lovely formal castle garden was just in planting stage when we were there, so all you saw were the shrubberies. Pheasants, ravens, and magpies out on the greens, and plenty of families with chubby little girls being led on chubby ponies from the equestrian center--Thelwell's Riding School come alive.

A week of electricity for four people in a three-bedroom unit was about 50 pounds.

Bistro food was very good. No other restarurants or shops nearby, although you can buy a few items at the reception center. Otherwise, you need to drive to the Co-op supermarket in Anstruther to pick up food supplies. There is a very good, if unprepossessing Indian take-out joint in St. Monance.

See Kilconquhar Castle website.